Astronomers See Distant Eruption as Black Hole Destroys Star

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Astronomers See Distant Eruption as Black Hole Destroys Star

Astronomers See Distant Eruption as Black Hole Destroys Star

For the first time, astronomers have directly imaged the formation and expansion of a fast-moving jet of material ejected when the powerful gravity of a supermassive black hole ripped apart a star that wandered too close to the cosmic monster. This animated gif shows the expansion the of radio-emitting region where the star was shredded by the supermassive black hole. The expansion indicates a jet of particles moving outward.

Credit: Mattila, Perez-Torres, et al.; Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF

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